On the ropes in Bristol

Event: Southern Junior League 2013 Round 2 Venue: Link Centre, Swindon Date: 11th May 2013

Dolphin’s youngsters found the going tough last weekend in the second round of the Southern Junior League at Horfield, Bristol where they had to settle for fifth place.  The meet was won convincingly by last year’s overall league winners and National Arena Junior Inter-League finalists, Swim Bournemouth with Wiltshire’s Bradford-on-Avon narrowly missing out on the runner up spot to Bristol Penguins.

A long evening of racing saw some good performances from Dolphin. The 11 year old girls were undoubtedly Dolphin’s main strength, with an in-form Livvy Flack winning both the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle.  Team-mate Sophie Bartlett also won the 50m butterfly but had to settle for third in her breaststroke swim.

Livvy Flack ~ 2 wins from 2 swims

Flack and Bartlett were joined by Denice Gardo and Lucie Wells in the relay events which included a second place in the freestyle event, one of the nine runner-up places throughout the evening including two from Henry Pearce and one each from Oscar Pearcey, Maya Grounsell, Annie Ward and Millie Jeans.   It was however no match for the superb Swim Bournemouth who racked up 24 first places from the 49 event meet and must surely be favourites to retain their title.    A number of key absences in the Dolphin line up also gave some of the less experienced swimmers the chance to compete against regional standard swimmers, enabling them to see first-hand what they need to aspire to in the future.

The final round of the Southern Junior League takes place on 22nd June.

Second Round Points: Swim Bournemouth 242, Bristol Penguins 184, Bradford on Avon 176, Keynsham 168, Swindon Dolphin 148, West Dorset Warriors 103